Steam iron



July 1-1, 1944. x K. L. WOODMAN STEAM IRON Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V V V //)////I///////// F: a I

INVENTOR KENNETH L.Woonna- A'ITOR EY WITNESSES: I V V 1 W July '11, 1944.

K. L. WOODMAN 2,353,425

STEAM IRON Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet L INVENTOR FIG 6 KENNETH L.WOODMAN.

ATTOizEY Patented July 11, 1944 STEAM IRON Kenneth L. Woodman, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,679

V e 4 Claims. This invention relates to steam irons and more particularly to that class of steam irons which continually flash small quantities of water into steam and discharge the steam to the ironing surface, and it has for an object to provide an improved steam iron of the character set forth.

The steam iron of the present invention preferably comprises a water-storage chamber or reservoir located within the cover of the iron and thermally isolated from the heating element. A small steam-generating chamber located in the base of the iron closely adjacent the heating element is readily accessible for cleaning. The wa-, ter from the storage chamber, under the control of a valve, is fed to the steam-generating chamher where it flashes into steam. The steam escapes through ports leading to the ironing surface.

Since it is generally impractical to use distilled water in steam irons, the operator will usually employ ordinary tap water. Tap water contains varying amounts of mineral salts and the like, depending on the locality, which are precipitated when the water is converted to steam. These precipitates are deposited on the water-heating surface of the iron and, since they are poor concluctors of heat, tend to thermally insulate the water from the source of heat. In the design of steam irons, it has often been the practice to provide relatively long channels or passages for generating and-distributing steam to ports which discharge it on the article being pressed. These channels and ports, being of limited cross-sec tion, tend to become clogged by the salt deposits. As the channels and ports have been dlfiicult or impossible to clean without disassembling the iron, the iron may become useless for its intended purpose.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of steam iron wherein the portion of the steam-generating chamber which receives the materials precipitated or deposited from the water as it is converted into steam is readily removable or accessible for cleaning whenever servicing is required,

It another object 01 the invention to provide a construction of steam iron wherein the steamdistributing channel and the steam-discharging port or ports are easily accessible for cleaning.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction of steam iron wherein particles of water are prevented from being carried by the steam to the material being pressed.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. i is a side elevation partly in section illustratingan electrically-heated steam iron embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the iron shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the location of the removable plug of the steam chamber relative to the heating element;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the iron shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is arznlarged perspective view of the removable plu per se;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1, but illustrating a slightly modified form 01 the invention;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the removable plug shown in Fig. 5, a part of the top wallbeing broken away; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view correspond-. ing to a portion of Fig. l and showing a pad of water-dispersing material in the steam-generating compartment.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, there has been illustrated an electrically-heated steam iron indicated generally by the reference character 5. comprises a cover or shell 5 having a handle I secured to the top thereof in any suitable manner. The interior of the cover 5 is provided with partitions such as 8 and 9 which, together with the side and top walls of the body, define a waterstorage chamber or reservoir I. This reservoir.

A metallic soleplate or base it is detachably secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of the body 6 preferably in spaced relation to the partition 8, so that the reservoir I0 is thermally heating element may be of well-known construction and comprises an outer metallic tube It having a coiled resistance element 'll supported in spaced concentric relation thereto by means of The iron 5 plate;

The thermostat'2i may be of conventional design and is adjusted by means of a rotatable shaft 22 connected thereto and extending through the sleeve 23 brazed or soldered in. fluidtight relation in the upper and lower walls of the reservoir iii. A knob or handle 24% provided with a suitable scale to indicate various temperature settings is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 22.

The soleplate i6 is provided with a recess or hole 25 located within the loop or bight 26 of the heating element it. This recess OpellS on the ironing surface 27 of the soleplate it, and is normally closed at its.lower end by means oi. the metallic plug 28 which is externally threaded to removably engage mating threads formed on the side walls of the recess. It will be'noted that the upper surface of this plug, togetherwith the lateral wall 29 and. the upper wall 33 of the recess, defines a chamber 25a.

The chamber 25a is divided into two corn.- munioating compartments by an annularrib or baille 311, preferably formed integral with the plug. The circular space or well within this baifie provides a steam-generating compartment 32 while the annular space between the bafiie and the lateral wall 29 of the recess-defines a steam-distributing compartment or channel 38. The rib or be 38 will normally prevent the steam generated within the compartment 32 from carrying particles of water over to the If large knob 42 in one direction or the other, the valve stem may be raised or lowered relative to the valve seat to to regulate the amount of water which may fiowirom the reservoir ii! into the steam-generating compartment 32. If desired, the knob 42 maybe provided with an index arrow (Fig. 3) which cooperates with a scale 46 ervoir it with Water and adjusts the thermostat ii to maintain the iron at the proper temperature for the particular material being ironed. When the iron has reached the correct heat, the water valve controlling knob d2 may be turned to allow water to flow at a predetermined rate from the tank through the openings 55 in the sleeve 35 and into the passage 39. falls on the surface of the plug 23' within the battle 3i where it is instantly flashed into steam. Any deposits of mineral salts or the like which may accumulate on the plug 2% or in the ports 35%, or on the walls of the chamber 25c may be easily cleaned therefrom by removing the plug from the iron. The steam in the. compartment 52 will pass over the bafie 3i and into the steamdistributing compartment 23? and then through the steam outlet ports 35 to the material being pressed. It will be understood that the plug 2%, due to its metal-to-metal contact with the soleplate which carries the heating element, will be heated sufilcienrtly to convert the water into steam. Further, by locating the plug closely adjacent the loop or bight 25 of the heating element, proper heating of the plug is insured.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a slightly modifled form. of the invention. In these two figures merit 33 and serve to discharge steam on thema ceives the bushing member at inserted in an aperture provided in the upper wall 3% of the soleplate it, and clamped to this wall by means of a nut 38 threaded thereon. This bushing is provided with a water passage 39 having a valve seat it formed therein.

The valve seat it is engageable by the lower tapered end of the valve stem till, guided in the sleeve 35, for closing the passage 3%. The upper end of the valve stem carries a knob 62 and below this knob is preferably threaded, as indicated at 33, to engage complementary threads formed in the upper end of the sleeve 35. By turning the the elements which correspond to the elements of the previously-described figures have been identified by like reference characters. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be noted that only a portion of the bottom wall or partition 8 of the water reservoir id and the portion of the soleplate it, which carries the steam-generating unit have been shown.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

, 5 and 6 difiers from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4-,

inclusive, in that the removable plug or member it is provided'with an annular wall 58 in spaced concentric relation tothe rib or bafiielt. This wall is grooved to receive the depending flange E6 or the disc or cover 52, which is swedged in this groove to form a-fiuid-tight joint. This disc is preferably resilient so that it will be pressed in fluid-tight relation against the lower end of the bushing 53 when the plug as is threaded into the hole 5 provided in the soleplate. As shown, the hole or recess, 5% is threaded to. receive the mating threads provided on the plug. The bushing 53 may be securedln the outlet opening it in fluid-tight relation to the partition t by brazing, soldering or the like. The center of the disc 52 has an aperture 55 therethrough in alignment with the water passage 58 when the parts are assembled, so thatfivater may flow into the steam -generating compartment 52 whengahe valve stem M is raised from the valve seat The water i Except for the structure specifically described above, the remainder of the modified iron may be the same as the iron illustrated in Figs. 1 and .4 and the operation thereof will be identical.

When it is desired to replace the plug 28.- or to clean the deposits which may accumulate thereon, it is only necessary to insert'a suitable tool in the steam ports 34 and remove the plug from the soleplate. A- suitable scraping tool or cleaning compound may be inserted through the aperture 55 to remove the deposits from the upper surface of the plug.

Steam irons which are designed to continually flash small quantities of water into steam'tend to emit small particles of water or sputter at the higher soleplate temperatures. This sputtering may occur when the water dropping into the steam-generating chamber does not have a chance to spread out and wet the surfaces of the chamber.- Since only the water in direct contact with the hot surfaces of the steam-generating chamber is flashed into steam, the generated steam may pick up small particles of water and carry them through the steam ports.

While the baflle 31 will ordinarily prevent water from being carried out by the steam, as an added precaution the steam chamber 32 (Figs. 1 and 5) may be provided with water-dispersing means 60 (see Fig. '7). comprise a pad or loose mass of interlaced filament-like or stranded material such as asbestos,. glass or aluminum wool, or equivalent porous and preferably substantially non-corrosive material capable of withstanding high temperatures.

The porous material 80 tends to break up the droplets of water entering the steam chamber and. also permits them to come in contact with the hot surfaces of the chamber at a more uniform rate than when the water is directly dropped on these hot surfaces. The porous material also tends to pick up any small particles of water being carried by steam toward the steam ports 34. The porous material 60 has the added function of accumulating a high percentage of the mineral deposits that may form within the steam chamber, so that servicing of the iron is facilitated. It will be understood that when it is desired to clean or replace the porous material, it is only necessary to remove the plug 28 from the sole.- plate. While the opening 55 in the cover of the plug 28' is large enough tq permit the porous material 80 to be withdrawn and replaced, it may be desirable to replace the plug 28' when the steam chamber of this plug requires cleaning.

The specific form'of my .invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, incorporates. certain improvements in construction which are the inventions of Roy H. Edwards and are disclosed and claimed in his patent application, Serial No. 404,590, filed Jul 30, 1941.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and I desire.

This water-dispersing means may therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A steam iron comprising a body having a liquid storage chamber therein, a soleplate carried by said body, said soleplate having an openin a hole opening on the ironing surface of the baseof a' steam iron comprising a disc-like element, a cover member secured in fluid-tight relation to one side of said disc, said disc and cover defining a chamber, and a baiiie dividing said chamber into a plurality of communicating compartments, said cover member having an aperture therein opening into one of said compartments, said element having at least one opening therethrough communicating with another of said compartments.

3. A member adapted to be removably secured in a hole opening on the ironing surface of the base of a steam iron comprising a disc-like element, spaced inner and outer concentric annular ribs projecting from one side of said element,

and a cover member secured in fluid-tight relament defining a chamber, said inner annular rib dividing said chamber into communicating compartments, said cover member having an aperture therein opening into one of said compartments, said element having at least one-opening therethrough communicating with the other of said compartments.

4. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having an ironing surface. said soleplate having a hole therein opening on said ironing surface, a plug memberremovab'ly secured in said opening for closing the same, a cover member carried by said member and defining therewith a steam generating chamber, means including a conduit opening through said cover member for supplying a liquid to said chamber for conversion into steam, means carried by said soleplate and spaced from said 'cover member for heating sai'd soleplate and said plug member, said cover member being substantially thinner than said plug'member and limit- KENNETH L. WOODMAN. 

